Teacher had condoms, Truly seltzers for sex acts with teen, feds say. FBI agent awaited

In attempt to identify people involved in human trafficking in the area of Sioux City, Iowa, federal authorities said they worked with local police and “posted an advertisement for sex services on a frequently used dating website.”

The advertisement appeared to be from a 19-year-old woman offering to engage in sex acts for money, according to a May 30 news release from the Northern District of Iowa.

Andrew Heller, a middle school teacher and high school baseball coach, responded to the ad in July, authorities said.

His defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on May 31.

“After calling the phone number in the ad, Heller began communicating with a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl, but who was actually an undercover FBI agent,” officials said. “Heller agreed to pay $200 cash and bring some Trulys in exchange for sex with the 14-year-old.”

He scheduled a meetup with the “teen,” officials said, and showed up as planned in his vehicle.

Police found the money, Truly hard seltzer drinks and condoms, according to the release.

Heller, 39, pleaded guilty in January to sexual exploitation of a minor, authorities said.

Now, he has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release, records show. He has also been ordered to pay $5,100 in special assessments.

Heller taught at a middle school in Wynot, Nebraska, and coached high school baseball in Sergeant Bluff, authorities said.

This story was originally published May 31, 2023 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Teacher had condoms, Truly seltzers for sex acts with teen, feds say. FBI agent awaited."